Health secretary promises response over Covid testing lab’s failings
HEALTH Secretary Sajid Javid has promised to investigate the reported failings of a Covid-19 testing laboratory in Leamington after being put on the spot in Parliament. At a lively Commons debate, and amid a rise in Covid cases across the UK, Leamington and Warwick MP Matt Western quizzed the Secretary of State about the Juno Drive facility’s track record of processing tests.
“Planned to process 300,000 tests a day, the Rosalind Franklin laboratory is handling just 30,000 a day,” the Labour MP said. “I understand that some scientists working there are being paid for five days but working just one day a week.
“Given that the lab cost £1.1 billion, almost twice the original budget, what does this say about the Minister’s oversight of the programme?”
Mr Javid responded: “I am afraid that it was not clear to me which tests the hon gentleman was talking about; all I heard was ‘300,000 tests.’ So if he cares to write to me, I will respond properly to his question.”
A letter from Mr Western’s office is due to be sent to the Secretary of State. Mr Western has long been a critic of the lab, which had been billed as the centrepiece of the Government’s test and trace network, yet formally opened six months late in July last year.
He has scrutinised its practices after accusing the government of ignoring his concerns about its opening date, the costs to the taxpayer and its association with multiple private companies.
A national newspaper investigation claimed the lab had been plagued by major testing issues, spiralling costs and allegations of cover-ups. The newspaper also reported numerous health and safety concerns after a worker was said to have been seriously injured on site
Sources cited in the investigation claimed the project could be hundreds of millions of pounds over budget with an initial £588million allocated to it. It referenced construction delays, inadequate training, sample contamination, Covid outbreaks and staff misconduct.
Lab and treasury sources claimed that, by February of this year, more than £1.1billion had been spent on the laboratory which was said in April to have been placed ‘under review.’ The probe was assisted by Mr Western who supplied contacts, information and asked Parliamentary questions.
It’s claimed the facility, which was briefly evacuated when a huge fire ravaged nearby Leeson Polyurethanes Ltd, has never reached more than 20 per cent per of its original intended testing capacity. Doubts remain, Mr Western said, as to whether it would ever reach full working order.
The UK Health Security Agency has dismissed the allegations. It says the lab, which has processed more than five million test results - 65,000 a day at the height of the Omicron surge - has never once been under review.